Progressive hypoglycemia is one of the main causes that could lead dogs to death with septic shock. The ancillary therapy suggested by many authors includes glucose and insulin replacement to improve tissue glucose utilization; however, there are some contradictions about insulin serum concentration values in patients with septic shock, making questionable the need for insulin replacement. This study evaluated glucose serum concentration changes in dogs with septic shock and insulin serum concentrations (absolute and relative ratios) in the hypoglycemic group obtaining information that may help the therapy of hypodinamic shock. Twenty-five dogs seen in the emergency room of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Universidade de São Paulo showing signs of endotoxic shock due to a hemorragic gastroenteritis (presumptive diagnosis of parvovirus infection) were evaluated in this study. There were 52% hypoglycemic animals, 36% normoglycemic and 12% were hyperglycemic. Out of 13 hypoglycemic dogs, 3 had absolute and relative hyperinsulinemia and only relative hyperinsulinemia in 6 dogs. Absolute hypoinsulinemia was observed in 2 animals. The finding that more than a half of the animals in the hypodinamic state of shock presented absolute or relative hyperinsulinemia, denoted the demand of carefull laboratorial evaluation of the patient prior to insulin administration. The administration should be reserved for animals with periferic resistance or decrease in insulin serum concentration.
septic shock; dogs; insulin; glucose
